Instead of rehab start, 'pen session for Buchholz

OAKLAND -- The Minor League rehab outing Clay Buchholz was expected to make Sunday will now be a bullpen session.

Boston's two-time All-Star was initially scheduled to make the first of two Minor League rehab starts Sunday, but instead he'll stay with the big league club for a bit longer before he makes at least one rehab start in the Minors.

"It's a little different than what we had kind of outlined initially," manager John Farrell said. "The most important thing is there's no issues shoulder-wise, any kind of discomfort. He's basically in that reconditioning phase getting back into shape."

Buchholz, who is dealing with inflammation in the bursa sac of his right shoulder, will still make the trip to New York for the Midsummer Classic, throwing long toss in the bullpen Tuesday instead of participating in the main event.

"What we've come to an agreement on is we can get the up-downs that would replace, say, a three-inning start at some point," Farrell said. "And we can simulate that. Once he goes out, he's basically accomplished that first step."

Farrell added that he anticipates Buchholz, who is 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA but hasn't pitched since June 9, to return before the end of July, though whether that's an actual possibility is up in there with the date of his Minor League outing still not determined.